YEAR OF THE TIGERDRAGON

[vengaboy]

No matter what language you speak, no matter what country or universe you reside in, a mysterious letter has found its way to you. Those who can read it will recognize it as an ornately scripted Japanese new year's invitation; those who don't might not even know these elaborate squiggles mean anything at all. Either way, when you look up from the neatly folded paper, you're probably nowhere near home anymore.

Where is this?! When is this?! Welcome to Japan as it was kinda, sorta, just shy of the year 1600, esteemed guests! If it somehow feels like it isn't even the right month anymore, that's because local time and date is still on the lunar system. It's fine. New Year's parties are New Year's parties.

And those parties mean alcohol! Music! Dancing! Feasting! Don't be shy! There are a number of attendants in colourful livery nearby, eagerly expecting an influx of new guests. They're all friendly enough, but they don't seem to bear the crest of any particular clan and sharp-eyed visitors may catch the briefest glimpse of a striped fluffy tail or a foxy grin... or is it a trick of the light? If you want nothing to do with any of this, they might pout a little but will send you home without any problem. But if you choose to follow them beyond the gates, get ready for one hell of a night. The only kind of explanation you get for what's going on is that the Takeda and Date clans have set aside their rivalries for a night of PEACE AND PARTY and everyone's invited. What does that mean? Go find out for yourself.

Of course folks from all over have been invited to this thing, but outnumbering the other guests by far are a bunch of rowdy samurai types, some in their armour, many in more formal robes, several proudly bearing banners of red or blue. Nobody appears to have any weapons on them, but if any guest takes that as an opportunity to start some shit they're going to be swarmed in like two seconds, so... maybe don't do that. However! There is plenty of space outside to spar in, if that's your thing! Or you can stay inside and drink, eat, enjoy the music, exchange raunchy stories, be an awkward wallflower, drink some more, witness some weird and kind of horrific family bonding, watch the unique display of gun- and canonfire alongside the fireworks, explore the scenic countryside outside of the compound, listen to some smug asshole in an eyepatch and some kid in red scream really loud at eachother, get playfully bullied into taking part in a ceremony you know nothing about, drain a bottle or two, flirt with famous historical figures, or... whatever you want!

All fandoms, all mediums, AUs, doubles, OCs, etc are all fair play here! Invite your friends! Invite your dog! Go nuts! Just slap a warning up if any threads take a particularly violent or sexy turn. Or both. I ain't judging.

LET'S PARTY!

Comments

[ooeshii]

[Did someone say alcohol and feasting?! A party like this could attract the wrong kind of attention all too easily.

The ornately dressed, though quite small, girl sitting at this long table surrounded by food and sake might look human at first glance, but, let's face it—probably only if you're already drunk. There's nothing subtle about those long horns coming out of her forehead, or those demonic claws. Instead of tearing any viscera with them, though, she's instead shoveling down quite a pile of . . . konpeito, at the moment, but this is only one stop on the neverending feast train. And if the black hole sucking down all the food and alcohol isn't attention-grabbing, the periodic cackling and ringing out voice probably is:]

Hahaha! Ahhh, it's tasty . . . keep it coming, and maybe I won't torch this party to the ground when I'm finished with it! Mmmffhgh!

[There was probably more to that threat that got cut off by that meat bun she just stuffed in.

Even she can get full, though, not to mention drunk, so you might catch her flopped around in a better mood later in the evening. She's taking a break, but refusing to be budged from where she's lying, which is right in the way of whatever you need.]

Hands off! I'm not dooooone.

[alloutoflove]

Ueeeeeeee...

[ Listen, Chisa has seen a lot of Big Appetites in her time, both as a student and as a teacher as Hope's Peak, and this is still pretty impressive even by her standards. It's probably at the tail end of Ibaraki's food rampage, so she's probably not quite as distracted by food as she'd be at the start of it.

And of course Chisa is dressed cutely for tonight. What do you take her for?

Though she's not quite ladylike in her tone as she mutters. ]

You're gonna make yourself sick that way...

[ooeshii]

[She's at least slowing down on the konpeito, though it may be out of boredom more than being full, and she's possessive of the bowl anyhow, curling one arm around it. How can anyone eat this much pure sugar?]

Hmm? You wish! I can't be taken down just by sweets! You're jealous!

[alloutoflove]

Ehhhhhhh, no way!

[ If anything, she takes a half-step back. That's so much sugar... just watching it makes her feel a little ill... ]

For one thing, I could make wa~~ay better than the stuff here! Why settle for second best?

[ooeshii]

[Uh oh. Full recovery! Ibaraki sits up straighter in her seat (she really had been flagging a little) and swivels to face Chisa, with a wide, wicked grin.]

Bold words! If that's true, what are you doing out here? You should be making yourself useful in the kitchen! I'll even come along with you to supervise! . . . I'm bored anyway . . . no one can keep up with me . . .

[And so she swings down off her seat like a kid at a restaurant, clawed feet tapping on the floor. It probably sounds familiar to anyone with a pet.]

[alloutoflove]

[ She wants a pet soooooo badly. Sooooooooooooo badly. But she has yet to broach the topic because who knows what mishmash au place she and her people have wound up in before she came to attend this party, and it would not be fair to a pet to subject it to something like that.

But she manages to fix a smile on her face, if slightly bemused, and follows. It's like following a dog... no, no, more like a cat, imperious and demanding... kind of cute... ]

Ehhh, was it supposed to be a contest? Did anyone else know that?

[ooeshii]

I announced it at regular intervals!

[She sounds so huffy. It's not her fault that no one took her challenge seriously. They would take it seriously if she started killing people! But then she'd have no more food or anyone left to toy (play) with, so . . .

So, into the kitchen with them.]

Don't disappoint me, human. We'll see if you live up to your talk. Your entire species is on the line, by the way.

[alloutoflove]

Yes, yes, it always is.

[ What's another humanity-destroying threat when you've lived through Despair? If there's anything she can take away from that, it's that humans are always more resilient than anyone or anything might give them credit for.

So she takes the threat, however serious it might be, in line. More pressingly is tying back her sleeves and gently (gently!) bullying the kitchen staff to give her room to work. This is not her beautiful home, with her beautiful kitchen, but it's well-stocked and while she might not be able to tell you anything indepth about their more esteemed historical hosts and guests, she can figure her way through the kitchen, no matter how archaic it is compared to what she's familiar with. ]

So~! Oni-san, tell me what you'd like to eat.

[ooeshii]

[It always is?! What does that mean?! Except that's pretty true in Chaldea at least, isn't it . . . humans are always on the brink of disaster, it's so annoying . . .

Ibaraki hops easily up onto one of the counters, a side one that Chisa isn't likely to need the space of, to swing her legs off the edge and watch from a front row seat. Depending on how interesting this is, she may end up encroaching on the cooking space after all.]

The Sengoku period is okay, but what I really want is a mille crepe cake! That shouldn't be a problem for you, big-mouthed human!

[alloutoflove]

Mille crepe, huh...

[ Do they even have the right kind of pan? The right sort of flour? It's not going to be a huge issue if they don't, but it would be easier. She's the Ultimate Housekeeper, not the Ultimate Chef!

So she goes digging through the supplies, though... ]

Eh, Sengoku? Seriously? I'm surprised you could tell just by the food.

[ooeshii]

[The flour, probably. The pan . . . she'll probably have to make do. It's a challenge! One which Ibaraki watches with amusement, swinging her legs.]

What kind of oni wouldn't know Japanese history? Of course I can tell. The food just helps! This is after the time I was alive. The humans sure are boisterous these days.

[belomancy]

[ In contrast, she gasp in horror at the sight of the other woman. The horns are a little hard to miss, not to mention the claws she's sporting. ]

Oh no, even ogres partake in this party, so that's why I was invited to this celebration. As a shrine maiden I won't allow you to cause any more trouble! You have to leave.

[ Never mind that Ibaraki-Douji is just lying on the floor. Nope, you're getting the boot. ]

[ooeshii]

[Like hell! She drags herself upright with a growl. The floor is spinning just a little. By oni standards, she's a lightweight and all.]

Ahaha . . . ! Take it up with the fools who invited in one of my kind! You humans can't help but flirt with danger!

[Hiccup.]

Ahhhh, I shouldn't be on the floor . . .

[All at once she seems embarrassed to have been seen like this, and pulls herself back into her seat like a normal-ish person.]

[belomancy]

[ She huffs and puts her hands on her hips. ]

I will, once I purify these grounds from your kind. In fact, it's working right now, my presence has weakened you!

[ Although a part of her is a tiny bit concerned as to why the ogre looks a little woozy. It's clear on her face for a brief second, before she furrow her brows even more. ]

[ooeshii]

It has not! I just drank a little too much sake. But don't think I'm going to stop just because I've had too much!

[By now, she's at least situated back at the table and looks passingly normal. Mostly. Kind of. Okay, she's real drunk.]

Unless you have the power to make sake stronger! If you do, you're coming home with me. Shuten would never let me hear the end of it if I let a treasure like that get away.

[belomancy]

[ Nah, it's pretty clear she's drunk. She's seen enough tonight to know what drunken people look like, and you're definitely one of them, Miss Oni.

She raises her eyebrow at Ibaraki's rambles. Now where had she heard of that name before... ]

Shuten... as in Shuten-Doji? Are you one of his underlings, the child from Mizuo? You're certainly much smaller than what the legends have said. But regardless the tales, I will make sure you won't cause any trouble here-- And I don't make sake stronger!

[...] I think.

[ooeshii]

Ahhh, Shuten's even smaller than I am! She'd still laugh at me if she heard you making fun of me for it . . .

[Apparently, in her world, both her and Shuten-Douji are tiny female oni. Ibaraki groans thickly in embarrassment even imagining how much Shuten would laugh at hearing this, in her ASMR voice, and slumps over the table again in her petulance.]

Look upon me, human! I am the great Ibaraki-Douji! It doesn't matter how small I am, I can still hold my liquor!

[belomancy]

Ibaraki-Douji! I should have known! [ She covers her mouth with her hand. She leans over to inspect the oni's slumped form. ] My, you're rather small for someone who hold her liquor.

[ She's impressed but also ??? The tales were incorrect? But what she knew is that the demon known as Ibaraki-Douji as some kind of barber turn barbarian oni. ]

You must have remembered your days before becoming an oni, would you rather not relive back those days instead?

[ooeshii]

You don't have to keep mentioning my size!

[She snarls. It comes out slurred. This is not the most convincing display of oni machismo in history, that's for sure.]

And don't make me laugh! Nevermind that it's too late for that anyway . . . why would that be what I wanted? I couldn't tell you one good thing about being human.

[belomancy]

Then, what good comes from becoming an oni, have you not brought blood and tragedy wherever you go since becoming one?

[ Despite her accusation, there is a part of her curious and maybe sympathetic about the poor child from Ibaraki. It must be sad having to leave your home behind. ]

I've only lived my life as a human, but here are plenty of wonderful things about being one.

[ooeshii]

I'll tell you what good comes from it! It's fun, that's what! A human can't understand, so there's no point trying. Blood and tragedy are just part of oni culture! Hey, are you really a shrine maiden if you think you can just talk me into living as a human?

[She squints through the haze of intoxication at the girl. What an interesting shrine maiden that is . . . ]

[powerhittou]

[Whoa. That girl can really put it away...

Honestly, Masamune's seen enough SHIT that he's not terribly bothered by this girl looking like an actual demon. Maybe it's a little weird, but more concerning than that is the fact that she's going to clean out the entire buffet before he gets anything?! NOT ALLOWED.]

Hey! Leave some for me! And everyone else, too!

[But most importantly, for him. Whoever made the zundamochi here made it JUST like he makes it at home and that's amazing?? He wants all of it.]

[ooeshii]

If you don't want me to eat this, bring me something else just as delicious! Come on, let's see what you're made of!

[HOPE IT'S CANDY!

No, right now she has some ohagi, so the zundamochi is temporarily safe, but it's on the list. It may even be next on the list. Front of the conveyor belt straight into Ibaraki's mouth.]

[powerhittou]

Ha!? How about my ass, then?!

[Replacing food with MORE FOOD isn't going to solve the problem. Suddenly Masamune really is concerned with making sure everyone else gets their share, a flash of altruism inspired by... spite. Yes. In all of two seconds of zunda panic, Masamune has decided that this bottomless stomach is his enemy.]

Move it, I ain't eaten since lunch. [If he waits his turn he won't get one at all, he's sure of it. So he'll just elbow his way in and reach across RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER.]

[ooeshii]

[That comeback would be worthy of at least a hearty laugh and maybe an offer to share a drink together. That's the level she's operating on here. But before she can make either of those, he's stealing her food! All of it is hers and he's stealing it!!]

Ah—! Not the wagashi! That's mine! I worked hard stealing it all from everyone else, so get your hands off!

[She swipes out one claw to just, scoop up like five cakes at once, to shovel into her mouth. They don't even go well together.]